SECRET BACK ROAD TO CHIPPING NORTON

If you are coming to Chippy from the M40 direction there's a back road which has become my favourite way home from London over the years. A road which wanders across the remote and pretty much unknown hills of North Oxfordshire and gives you a taste of real countryside within moments of turning off the motorway. The landscape is mostly gentle and the road deserted. There's a stretch after Duns Tew with views across incomparably lovely English countryside. Its a beautiful way of creeping up on Chippy which avoids any towns and at the most takes only five minutes longer than driving round the Oxford Ring Road. With a side trip to one of the great houses nearby (Rousham or Chastleton) and lunch in Deddington or at the pub in Duns Tew, my back road would be the basis of a great quiet day out from London or Birmingham. I really love this road.

Turn off the M40 at Junction 10. Take the B430 (Direction- Middleton Stoney and Oxford). After half a mile turn right by Ardley Church (Signpost for Somerton)


		The 13th Century Tower at Ardley



Follow the road to Somerton. At the T-junction turn right down over the Oxford Canal.As you drive over the humpback bridge look northwards at the fabulous stretch of the Oxford Canal.


		The Oxford canal at Somerton



Look left over the Cherwell Valley - perfect!


		The Cherwell Valley



Drive through the stone walls of North Aston and cross the A4260 (the busy Oxford-Banbury road)


		Main Street and Green - North Aston



Go through Duns Tew past the church. At the end of the village, fork left uphill again.


		Duns Tew Church



After a truly spectacular mile or so you reach a T-junction. Turn left for half a mile, then right for the Tews (Signpost - Chipping Norton)


		Ledwell across the valley



The Cotswold are coming - sheep are everywhere.


		The ones that got away



If you really must you can make a short detour on the right to see the local chocolate box village - Great Tew


	Great Tew - retouched to eliminate all the 4x4s



Then either drive through Little Tew straight on to Chippy or better - Turn left in Little Tew, and right after a mile through Heythrop.


	Heythrop Church and the last mile home to Chippy